IPL 2014: Chennai Super Kings maul Delhi Daredevils by 8 wickets

Dwayne Smith smashed 51-ball 79 while Suresh Raina‘s quickfire 47 not out helped Chennai Super Kings (CSK) maul Delhi Daredevils (DD) byeright wickets in the 26th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2014 tournament at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi on Monday. Chasing a daunting target of 179 to win, Chennai scored 181 for two in 19.4 overs.

Smith clobbered as many as eight sixes and four boundaries to score 79, on the other hand, Raina’s 47 not out came from 27 balls, studded with six boundaries and one six. Smith and Raina added 86 runs for the second wicket in just about seven overs, which was a crucial factor in Chennai’s huge win in this match.

Chennai Super Kings made a strong start in their chase of 179, with the opening pair of Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum adding 82 runs in the first 11.2 overs. While Smith attacked the Delhi bowlers right from the word go, McCullum did not look in his usual elements and could manage only 32 off the 35 balls he faced.

In their chase of 179, Chennai trudged along to 23 for no loss after three overs. This was when Smith unleashed himself. In the fourth over of Jaydev Unadkat, the explosive Caribbean batsman slammed three consecutive sixes to provide Chennai some much-needed momentum.

Chennai did not lose wicket, but they did not score as quickly as they needed to, either. The required rate kept on increasing as the target was stiff in front of them. Moreover, McCullum’s struggle to connect and keep up with the pace also hurt Chennai in the middle overs. After hitting a boundary off Laxmi Ratan Shukla in the 12th over, McCullum got caught by Murali Vijay for 32 off 35 balls. He hit five boundaries during his innings.

McCullum’s dismissal brought Suresh Raina at the crease, and he immediately announced his arrival with two boundaries. Raina and Smith scored at a brisk rate right from the time they got together, and Chennai got back on track quickly. Smith got to his half-century with a six and a four off Shukla in the 14th over, and after that Raina took control.

Raina smashed two boundaries off Unadkat in the next over, and in the next, punished Wayne Parnell for being wayward with a six and a four. Smith continued his carnage in the 18th over, when Delhi and India pacer Mohammed Shami was hit for two boundaries and a six, and his over brought 17 runs to the Chennai Super Kings.

In the 19th over, Smith departed when he tried to clear the boundary. The right-handed batsmen hit the ball very high in the air, and Murali Vijay took a brilliant catch in the deep to dismiss the Chennai opener. However, it was too late for Delhi in the match. Smith’s dismissal brought MS Dhoni at the crease, and he sealed a big win for his side with a six and a four off Unadkat in the final over. This was Chennai’s sixth win on a trot in this IPL.

Earlier in the innings, Dinesh Karthik scored a quick half-century while late blitz by JP Duminy and Kedar Jadhav helped Delhi Daredevils (DD) set a 179-run. Karthik added crucial 71 runs for the third wicket with Murali Vijay, which provided Delhi a platform to set up a competitive total after being asked to bat first.

After being asked to bat, Delhi lost momentum in the innings one couple of occasions but the knocks by Karthik, Duminy and Jadhav ensured they set a strong total of 178 for five in their allotted 20 overs. Duminy and Jadhav added 58-runs for the sixth wicket to power their side. Jadhav smashed two sixes and a four in the final over off Mohit Sharma to remain unbeaten on 29 off 18 balls.